Automatic spoke-turning machine



May '12, 1925. v 1,537,661

. H. FLICK AUTOMATIC SPOKE TURNING CHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1921 4Sheets-Sheet. 1

ATTORN EYS.

1 I IE Henry fh'c/r May 12, 1925. 1,537,661

H. FLICK AUTOMATIC SPOKE TURNING MACHINE Filed Oct/4, 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

BY I

A TTORNEYS.

May 12, 1925. 1,537.66}

H. FLICK AUTOMATIC SPOKE TURNING MACHINE Filed 001;. 4, 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

N k I E By Hen/" flick May 12, 1925 1,537,661

- H. FLICK AUTOIATIC SPOKE TURNING CHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 4 38 I" Q J! -"'INVENTOR. 0 Henr Flick sy z ATTORNEYS.

Patented Me 12, 19252.

UNITE!) STATES HENRY FLICK, G3? JAGKSQN, MICHIGAN, A'SSIGNQ'R T9HAYES-REZHEEL GQMPANY, 0F

ZIAfiItIFJON, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC SPOKE-TURNING I' IACHINE.

Application filed October 4, 1921.

To all #0720120 it may, concern Be it known that I, HENRY Fmcma citizenof theIlnited States, residing in the city and county ()fJlCl-ISOH,State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Spoke-Turning Machines. of which the ttollowing is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved automatic.spoke turning machine.The objects of the invention are:

First, to -pro*.*ide such a machine which will from a previouslyprepared spoke billet turn out a complete finished spoke with a taperedhead and the tcnon finishe l.

Second, to provide such a structure with an improved arrangement ofcutter heads.

Third, to provide in such a structure an improved means for effectivelyturning the entire spoke.

I ourth, .to provide in .such an automatic machine an improved sandermeans.

Further objects and objects relating to details andeconomies ofconstruction and operation will fdefinitelyappear from the.detaileddescription to follow. 7

, Q'Ihe objectsof the invention are accor plished by the devices andmeans described in the followingspecification. The inventionisclearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure showing a preferred embodimen't oflthe invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawing t'orming a part of thisspecification, ,in which:

Fig. I is aside elevationofthe improved machine from the IlgllbSlClGshowing the arrangement of driving pulleys, sand belt tightenerand thelike.

Fig. II- is a detail end elevation viewon a reduced scale from the'let-tendv of Fig. I, the main driving belt being omitted. V

Fig. III is a detail sectional elevation view, certain parts beingshownin full lines, takenon the irregular line 33 of Figs. I, V and IX,showing the multiple revolving work supporting means with the cutterheads andsander belt omitted.

Fig. IV is a detail sectional view on irregular line 4% of Figs. II andIII, on the same scale asF g. III, showing series ot spokes inprocessofmanutacture and successive action 01 the cutter heads andsanding belt, other portions beingomitted.

Fig. V is an enlargeddetail sectional view the lathe.

Serial No. toe-241.

'on the irregular line 55 of-Figs. II and III, showing details of thedriving gears, both for revolving the 1nult1ple headj work holder andrevolvlng the l ve spindles-of FigJVI is a detail sectional view on lin6 6 ofFigs. I and VII, 'showing details of the sander belt tightener anddrive.

Fig. VII is a detail sectionalelevation on the irregular line 77 of Fig.'VI, showing the method of adjusting and maintain 'ing the tension andthe position o'f both the driving and sander belts.

FigPi III is an enlarged detail radial sectional view throughthe springclamp -=an'd cam actuating means of the tail center -spindle--for eachspokejtaken on line8'8 0t Figs. I and IV.

plates of thennain frame of the'machinewhicli suppo'rt and carry the other parts. A generalsupporting case4 is provided to embrace the centralupper part of the side frame 2 and a similar supporting circular plate5' is at the other end of the machine.

' f'zThe main supporting shaft "6 is carried in abearingT atthe centerof the plate 5 and bearing '8 at'the center of platett'. A

cylindrical shell 9 isprovidedat the" center to which atthe leftlendse'ciire d the. head 10 and -a supporting plate 11 is parallel therewithand. secured thereto by an outer shell 11 ,This constitutes the holder.of. the lmu'lt'iple lathe spindle lieadsor headstock, the same being'revolubly. supported on the shaft 6. A similar head 12is at theopposite end of the cylindrical shell 9 and carries the tailspin'dles'or centers.

The headstoclrs each comprise a spindle l3 carryingahead 14: which isprovided...with

a thrust bearing 15 betweenitandthe plate 10. Thesame'is held securely.against-the thrust bearing 15 by the coiled spring 1.16.

7 Upon the head 17' at the outer end of the spindle 13 is a chuckcomprising a pair of rollersv 18 18 transverse to the center forming thejaws for receiving the tapered or mitered hub end of a spoke. Thespindle is 7 provided with a pinion 19 and is driven by Y a gear 20keyed to the shaft 6 at 21, the

20 serving to drive all of the multiple:

spindles at the same time.

The tallstock comprises the sleeve 22 (see Figs. III and VIII) carryingthe reciprocating center 23 which is secured against rotation; Thesleeve is clamped securely by clamp 24. Abushing 25 is provided fortheouter end of the reciprocating member which is held pressed inwardly bythe coiled spring 27. I Each tailstock is provided with a roller 25which bears against the spring pressed ring 28 which is supported by aseries of pins 29 having coiled springs 30 disposed thereon within thecircular plate l.

A'cam 31 seen in dotted lines in Fi s.

III and IV andin full lines in Fig. VIII) I is provided for withdrawingthe tailstock ca Ll 32 is the magazine for receiving the spokebillets-33. These are carried from the mag azine at the opening'3 l bybeing shucked and swung under the cutter heads, as lndr cated at35,'rotat1ng on the lathe centers as ihey progress and being acteduponby the cutter heads. J u

The multipleelathe spindles of the machine are jdriven by the pulley 36which is driven by the belt 37. The pulley 36 is on theshaft 38 whichbears a worm 39 which drives a worm gear40 on shaft l1 which drivespinion a2 which meshes with pinion 43 on the main shaft 6 which,therefore,

drives the main shaft 6 at a relatively low. rate of speed and revolvesthe spindles at a relatively slow speed as they are advanced to thecutter heads and sander. The work carrier is revolved on its. axis fromshaft 6. Secured to shaft 6 is a gear 44. which drives a train of gears4:5, 46-and47. The

gear 47 meshes with gear rim 48(see Figs.

III and V) which revolves the multiple lathe work carrier uponits axisaround the shaft 6. This causes the multiple lathe to revolve. aroundits center while the lathe spindles are being revolved on their centersas they are advanced. 1

The cutter head- 49' is provided with 7 blades 49 having curved endportions 50 corresponding to the curve at the inner end of a spoke, sothat when a spoke swings to These tail position as indicated in Fig. IV,by the first round spoke 35, the cutter very .quickly reduces it to sizewhile the'revolving spoke is passing.

The cutterhead 49 is carried on the shaft 51 which is supported insuitable shouldered bearings 52, 53 to maintainthe same, againstlongitudinal displacement. These are driven by pulley 54. The pulley'55at the outer end of the shaft drives the pulley 36 through the belt 37.I

- Between the blades d9 of the" cutter head are disposed angularlyprojecting saw like cutters 4:9 ver like the sections'of dado,

saw, which cut a'neck or annulus towards the outer end of the spoke,thus forming the spoke tenon. Further on, on the frame, is supported thecutter head 59 which is car-- ried on the shaft 58 which is providedwith a pulley 57. An idler pulley 56 is provided 'on the frame betweenthe pulleys 54- and 57.

Around these is disposed the driving belt 60. The cutter head 59 isprovided with twice the number of knives as the cutter head 49 and itworks'very rapidly and gives a smooth finishing cut to thespoke.

' Sander rolls 61 and 62 are supportedin proximityv to the path of thespindles beyond the cutter heads on suitable axes inthe frame. The roll62 is carried on arm 63 pivoted at 64 for adjustingthe same. A

hand wheel 65 is provided for adjusting the same laterally.

Thesander rolls conform in their longitudinal outline to the contour ofthe cutter I The sander belt 66 is heads (see Fig. 'II). dr-iven'fromthe roll 67, the same being provided. with a'pulley 68f driven bythebelt 69 by any suitablemeans. The pulley is carried on the adjustablypivoted standard 70 on trunnion 71.

On a suitable base 72, adjustable by the hand screw 73 in threaded lug;74; is the ten. sion weight structure 7 5 connected by pivot 7 6 through"rod 7 7 by the adjustab le nut 78 to the said pivotalstandard 70.]

In the operation of the machine, spoke billets 33 are placed in themagazine 32 and, when the machine is put-in motion, the first pair ofspindles thatcome opposite the bot tom billet in the magazine is snappedvery strongly by the tailst'ock into and between the double roller chuck18, 18, and is ad vanced revolvingon its own axis'to the cut-- ter head49 which rough cuts the.,1nain body of the spoke in-its exact and properrelation to the tapered chucked ends The dado saws 4-9 out an annulargroove forming the tenon of thespoke with a projecting piece of woodbeyond the same (see illustra tion in the lower part ofFigQIII).

Thexrevolving spoke is their advanced to the cutter 59 which, owing tothe fact that it has double the number of knives, cuts a very smoothfinishing cut straight across the outer body and thebutton-like'projection at the end. The spoke then advances to the'apidly traveling sander belt 66 which is held yieldingly' in contactwith theturned body of the spoke, finishing the same, and after thissandingoperation the roller 28 on the, tailstock passes into engagementwith the cam iil which gradually withdraws the tailcenter to theposition indicated in 'FigLVIH, and drops the spoke with the button onthe end of the tenon, which can be "thereafter cutoit'. The rollercontinues upon the cam until the tail spindle comes opposite the nextsucceeding billet in the magazine when the, process is repeated Acut-oft saw-tor the tenon may be provided in this connection.

'lhis structure can be greatly modified without departing fronrtheinvention. A multiple structure is shown. The spokes could be turned andfinished without forming the tenons and on the other hand thetenons=-1nigl1t be formed without the final finishing process, all tothe advantage to the extent indicated. lathe with a single spindleandpair of rollers to properly dispose the cutting head could be madeuse of to make the spokes, and the dado saw for cutting the annulargrooves could be made use of independent of the cutter. It is desired toclaim the invention specifically and also broadly, as pointed out in theappended claims.

Having thus described the invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. The con'ibination with a multiple spindle spoke lathe, of chucks forthe spindles thercot comprising opposite and transversely disposedrollers, spring means for pressing the tail centers against the billets,a cam for withdrawing the same and releasing the tail centers forautomatically spcaring the ends of the spokes, a rotary cutter tor roughcutting the spokes as they are swung past the same, dado saws carried bythe said cutter between the blades for forming the tenon end of thespoke, a finishing cutter head with a large number of cut ters forgiving the spoke a finishing cut, and sander belt disposed on suitablycontermed rolls corresponding to the spoke for sanding the same, allcoacting as specified.

.2. The combination with a multiple spindle spoke lathe of chucks forthe spindles thereof comprising opposite and transversely disposedrollers, spring means for pressing the tail centers against the billets,a cam for withdrawing the same and releasing the tail centers forautomatically spearing the ends of the spokes, a rotary cutter for roughcutting the spokes as they are swung past the same, dado saws carried bythe said cutter between the blades for forming the tenon end of thespoke, and a finishtor pressing billets, a cam: for withdrawingthe-sameand- :spearing the.

"mg cutter head swithflavlarge number ot cutters: "for: givingtthe spoke.a :tinishing cut,

all coactin'g specified.

The combination"with a iinultiple spindle -spolrealathe, 0t chucksdorthe spinidles tl-iereot'. comprising OPPOSl-tGfillldtiltIlS- verselydisposed rollers, uspring nzieausfor ing theends of the spokes, a:rotary eutter 1 01 rough cutting the .spokesaas they ,are

swungpast the same, dadosaws.c-arricdby the said cutter'between theblades tor-torm- 111g thetenon end ofthespoke,anchasander belt disposedon suitably contormedarolls corresponding to the spoke tor-sanding thesame, all 'coacting asspecified.

The combination .with ,inultiple spindle spoke lathe,- of chucks for,the

spindles thereof comprisinglopposite and transversely disposed: rollers,spring means the tail -.centers 1* against the releasing the tailcenters towautomatically ends ot:'=tl1e spokes, rotary cutter for roughcutting the spokes as they are swung past the same, and dado sawscarried by the said cutter between the blades for forming the tenon endof the spoke, all coacting as specified.

5. A spoke lathe comprising a rotary chuck having a pair of spaced,parallel rollers adapted to receive the tapered end of a spoke andlocate the same lengthwise by its engagementwith the inclined faces ofthe taper, a tail center and means for advancing the same to engage thetenon end of the spoke and force the tapered end between the rollers tothe desired location, in combination with a cutting means for shapingthe spoke, including the tenon end, and means for causing said spoke,and cutting means to approach one towards the other laterally ofthespoke.

6. A many spindled spoke lathe comprising a series of rotary chucks eachcomprising a pair of spaced rotary rollers between which the tapered endof the spoke may-be advanced and by which it may be rotated, acorresponding series of centers, each in alignment with a chuck, andmeans for advancing said centers to locate the tapered end of each spokebetween the rollers, a cutting instrumentality for shaping the spokesincluding the tenons, and means for moving the series of chucks andcenters to bring them in succession laterally towards the cutting means.

7. The combination in a many spindle spoke lathe of a series of rotarychucks for receiving and rotating spokes, a, corresponding series ofcenters each in alignment with a chuck, with means for advancing saidcenters to engage the spokes and rotate the same, a rotary rough cutterfor rough-finishing the spokes, a dado saw cutter means ceeding relationto said finishing cutter ar ranged and disposed to act after the saidtenon groove has been formed, coacting for the purpose specified. 8. Thecombination in a many spindle spoke lathe of a series of rotary chucksfor receiving and rotating spokes, a correspond{ ing series of centerseach "in alignment with a chuck, With means for advancing said.

centers to engage the spokes, and rotate the same, a rotary rough cutter'for roughfinishing the spokes, a dado saw cutter means disposed tocutan annular groove in the rough-cut spokes for forming the tenon ends ofthe spokes, and a rotary finishing cutter in succeeding relation to saidrough cutter and dado saw cutter, coactlng for the purpose speclfied.

9. The combination in a many spindle spoke lathe of a series of rotarychucks for receiving and rotating spokes, a corresponding series ofcenters each in alignment with a chuck, With means for advancing saidcenters to engage the spokes and rotate the same, a rotary cutter forthe spokes, a dado saw cutter means disposed to cut an annular groove inthe spokes for forlningthe tenonends of the spokes, and a sanding beltin succeeding relation tosaid finishing cutter arranged and disposed toact after the said tenon groove has been formed, coacting for thepurpose specified.

I 10. The combination in a many spindle spoke lathe of a series ofrotary chucks for. rece vlng and rotating spokes, a corresponding seriesof centers each in alignment with a chuck, with means for: advancingsaid centers to engage the spokes andcrotate'the same, a rotary cutterfor the spokes, and

dado saW cutter means disposed to out an 7 annular groove in'thej'spokes for forming the tenon ends of the spokes-as specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal. v

HENRY FLTOK.

